sábado, abril 05, 2008

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Benefides to hand over Alfredo’s secret documents: Alfredo’s Defence Attorney, Benevides Correia Barros, will soon release Alfredo’s secret documents to the State. These documents were provided by Alfredo’s lawyer, Angelita Pires, in December 2007. Mr Barros did not clearly explain to the journalists what the documents contained, but he did reveal that there would be information about the February 11 attacks. (TP)

Pires had completely removed herself from Alfredo’s case in December 2007: “I had completely removed myself as a lawyer for Alfredo in December 2007. This is why I handed over the documents to Benevides Correia Barros who was his lawyer,” said Pires. (TP)

Fretilin MP says all documents related to Alfredo should be given to PGR: Fretilin MP Arsenio Bano has said that any documents related to Alfredo’s case should be handed to the Prosecutor-General. “If some of the documents have been kept by Alfredo’s lawyer, the Prosecutor-General should have them to use as part of the investigation process.” said Mr Bano. (TP)

TMR says no response from ISF on 11 February: Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak has said that on February 11, the F-FDTL had asked for security assistance from the ISF but received no response. Because of this, the F-FDTL had to send its patrol boat to the Aria Branka beach near Ramos-Horta’s residence. TMR made these comments at a meeting with Timorese Ambassadors on Wednesday (03/04) at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“There were no helicopters, no vehicles or movement from the ISF in response to the February 11 attacks, same as what they usually do for the IDPs,” said the TMR.TMR did acknowledge that it was only the Portuguese Formed Police Units that gave timely assistance to the President. “At that time, we could not do much because the ISF had done nothing- there was no movement from the ISF. Only the Portuguese FPU were mobilised,” he said. (TP)

Hens Klemm asks Salsinha to surrender: American Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hens Klemm, said that Salsinha and his men have to surrender in order to appear as witnesses for the February 11 attacks. (STL)

Government classifies Petitioners: During this month, the Government has classified petitioners into groups of those who want to rejoin the military and those who want to return to civilian life. (STL)

Government forbids people to be armed: The Council of Ministers have approved a proposal set forth by the Government to forbid civilians from using any type of weaponry including guns, machetes, swords, arrows and sling shots. This has been approved under the proposed law created on Thursday (4/04) at the National parliament.

People ask the Government to prolong ‘State of Siege’: During a dialogue carried out by the Apprehension Operation, people have asked that the State of Siege be prolonged in order to ensure the stability in the country.

Military Police Commander asks people to remain calm: The Military Police Commander, Abel da Costa, asked the people of Timor-Leste to remain calm and not to create problems if they don’t want to be imprisoned. “Whoever creates problems will be taken to the free hotel [prison] in Becora. Therefore I beseech people not to create problems,” said Mr da Costa. (STL)

Hens Klemm asks Salsinha to surrender: American Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hens Klemm, said that Salsinha and his men have to surrender in order to appear as witnesses for the February 11 attacks. (STL)

The above quote from Suara Timor Lorosae, a Dili based newspaper owned by Salvador Ximenes, a former por integration and por-autonomy leader with Indonesia reported what can only be regarded as yet another act of extreme indiscretion if not highly suspicious interference with Timor-Leste domestic issues. Some would argue a level of interference, precedented only by the former US ambassador Rees, that should lead one to ask; why does the US government represented by its ambassador have such an interest in Mr Salsinha? It surely is not only about peace and stability for Timor-Leste or they would have already done it before when Reinado was on the run or when the gangs were running amock in 2006 and seriously disturbing the stability of the nation and its citizens.

It is well known in Dili that there are more than passing suggestions of direct US involvement in the "petitioners movement" and the support Reinado and his men received including military uniforms and other logistics. Reinado and his men were wearing US Marine Corps standard issue fatigues (seen only in Afghanistan)when they attacked Ramos-Horta.

Many in Dili should ask this question openly in light of this repeated indiscretion by the US and its ambassadors: is the US calling off its dog (Salsinha) and saying "its time to come home? We will look after you?"

Lets not forget that the former US ambassador Grover Joseph Rees III was also criticised for interfering when he appeared at the church sponsored demonstration in 2005, in an act that could only have been interpreted as being in support of it against the government of Timor-Leste.

No other nation's ambassador has been so brazen in their interference, and this could only be interpreted as its latest act.

Is Timor-Leste entering a new phase in the campign by the US and its allies in ensuring Timor-Leste becomes a truley failed state? Be vigilent Xanana and Timor, they are after you too....they are after anyone who does not toe their line.

Indonesia releases former East Timor militia leader Sat Apr 5, 2:16 AM ET JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesia's Supreme Court has cleared the only person jailed over the violence surrounding East Timor's 1999 vote for independence, a judge said Saturday. Former East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in May 2006 by a tribunal trying military officers and officials for atrocities in East Timor.The Supreme Court overturned the verdict on appeal.Supreme Judge Joko Sarwoko told AFP that Guterres "was not proven to have structural command to coordinate attacks, even if he was the leader of the militia, so he could not be held responsible for the violence".Sarwoko said Guterres would be freed as soon as next week after "the verdict is handed out to the attorney general's office on Monday for execution". The judge said the verdict, announced late Friday, was reached on March 14.Judge Iskandar Kamil was quoted by state news agency Antara as saying that Guterres was "free from all charges" and "entitled to rehabilitation of his name and receive compensation from the state".Guterres headed the Aitarak or Thorn militia which terrorised residents of the East Timor capital Dili ahead of the 1999 UN-backed referendum that saw the East Timorese vote in favour of breaking away from Indonesia.The tiny half-island nation of one million people became independent in 2002.Pro-Indonesian militia groups, nurtured and backed by the Indonesian armed forces and police, went on a killing spree following the pro-independence results of the ballot. Some 1,400 people were killed in the violence.All other defendants besides Guterres that have faced trial have been acquitted or had their convictions overturned on appeal.

Court's East Timor verdicts under fire Also ABC: Interview with Mario CarrascalaoMarch 15, 2006Court's East Timor verdicts under fireTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Supreme Court has come under fire for its decision to release an Army general charged with atrocities before East Timor's independence vote in 1999, with observers saying the verdict once again discriminated in favor of the security forces.The court reinstated a 10-year jail term for former pro-Jakarta militia leader Eurico Guterres on Monday for his role in the atrocities. Guterres had been found guilty by an ad hoc human rights court of crimes against humanity in the former province.However, the court acquitted from similar charges Brig. Gen. A. Nur Muis, a former chief of the now-defunct Wira Dharma military command that oversaw East Timor during the ballot.The court has never found any middle- or high-ranking military and police officers guilty of involvement in the atrocities.Andi Widjajanto, a military analyst from the University of Indonesia (UI), said Tuesday the country's judicial system had again failed to bring security personnel to justice over the East Timor violence.The latest verdict would give human rights activists new impetus to push for the prosecution of Indonesian security officials through the International Criminal Court, he said."It has become a big question as to whether the prosecutors intentionally created such weak charges against the servicemen in a bid to provide 'legal loopholes' for the judicial panels to free them," Andi told The Jakarta Post"If the prosecutors are serious about giving East Timorese victims of the violence justice ... they must review all the reports on the East Timor crimes to find out whether there is still a possibility of bringing the servicemen back to court by charging them under the 2000 Law on the ad hoc human rights tribunal."Separately, noted human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis sarcastically wondered why the judges did not simply acquit all the suspects in the East Timor violence, including the civilians, instead of "unfairly giving legal privileges to the servicemen".The panel of judges ruled Muis was not responsible for two attacks on pro-independence supporters on Sept. 5 and 6, 1999, despite being responsible for keeping order during the months in the lead up to the ballot.However in the verdict against Guterres, four of the five panel judges reinstated a 10-year jail term earlier issued by the ad hoc human rights tribunal in 2002.Guterres, who headed the Aitarak, or thorn militia, was convicted for an attack on East Timor refugees taking shelter at a house belonging to pro-independence figure Manuel Viegas Carrascalao on April 17, 1999, four months before the independence ballot.Twelve people, not 14 as reported by the Post on Tuesday, were killed in the attack, including Carrascalao's son.Guterres was the second civilian convicted for the human rights violations, which took place around the vote. In April 2004, another -- former East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares -- was sentenced to three years in prison by the Supreme Court. Eight months later he was acquitted of all charges because of new evidence.--Radio Australia March 15, 2006 -transcript-Indonesia: Former Militia Leader Gets Ten Years JailIndonesia's Supreme Court has reinstated the ten year jail sentence of the former militia leader Eurico Guterres for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 1999. The original sentence had been handed down in 2002 by Indonesia's ad hoc human rights court but reduced to five years on appeal and Guterres has yet to serve any time. Guterres headed the notorious Aitarak or Thorn militia which terrorized Dili's residents ahead of the U-N organised referendum on independence.Presenter/Interviewer: Karon SnowdonSpeakers: Mario Carrascalao, Special Advisor to East Timor's President and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party.SNOWDON: In one incident linked to the militia led by Eurico Guterres, in April 1999, at least 12 people died as they sheltered in the house of Manuel Carrascalao, among those killed was Carrascalao's teenage son.Indonesian backed Timorese militia intimidated independence activists ahead of the referendum and after the overwhelming yes vote, they took revenge, going on a rampage of killing and destruction.At the time of the first court hearing in 2002 and just ahead of his sentencing, Eurico Guterres was still defiant.GUTERRES: I would not accept the judges decision, even for one day, or for one hour. Because what I did was for Indonesia.SNOWDON: Two years later his sentence was halved on appeal, but this week, the Supreme Court reinstated the original ten year gaol term with a vote of four to one.Manuel Carrascalao's brother, Mario was the Governor of East Timor for a decade from 1982.CARRASCALAO: My brother's house was attacked. They killed my nephew. I do also have an audio cassette where he encouraged the militias to kill Mario Carrascalao, myself and my brother.SNOWDON: Indonesia's internationally scorned ad hoc tribunal has acquitted all police and military officers accused of responsibility for or involvement in the atrocities in East Timor.Prosecutors in the Guterres case have reportedly vowed to have him arrested.If Guterres serves gaol time he will be the only one of 18 who faced charges in Indonesia to do so.East Timor's own Serious Crimes Unit has indicted hundreds of offenders but Jakarta has taken no action.In addition a UN backed report in January accused Indonesia of massive violent crimes during its occupation of East Timor between 1975 and 1999.Mario Carrascalao who doesn't believe justice has been fully served in the Guterres case, now works as Special Advisor to East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao who favours reconciliation with Indonesia.CARRASCALAO: For me they make justice, because it was an illegal war, many people here suffer it and many people were being killed here and many people ran away but who was behind Eurico Gutteres. I believe it's from the armed forces and the police, they were behind that. Because when they attacked my brother's house, and killed my nephew, many people saw that there was the military. It is good that the supreme court arranged a ten year sentence, because he deserve it.SNOWDON: And do you think that the reinstatement by the supreme court of the ten year sentence is a sign that Indonesia has taken the issue a little more seriously since the publication of the United Nations report, perhaps?CARRASCALAO: Yeah, that's a better Indonesia for sure.SNOWDON: And personally for you Mr Carrascalao, are you reconciling with Indonesia and with the Timorese militia after this time? Are you feeling that reconciliation is possible?CARRASCALAO: No, for me of course I agree with the reconciliation, because you cannot leave the force as the enemy, so we have to really reconciliate with each other, but we should not forget justice.

Indonesia releases former East Timor militia leaderJAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesia's Supreme Court has cleared the only person jailed over the violence surrounding East Timor's 1999 vote for independence, a judge said Saturday.Former East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in May 2006 by a tribunal trying military officers and officials for atrocities in East Timor.

The Supreme Court overturned the verdict on appeal.

Supreme Judge Joko Sarwoko told AFP that Guterres "was not proven to have structural command to coordinate attacks, even if he was the leader of the militia, so he could not be held responsible for the violence".

Sarwoko said Guterres would be freed as soon as next week after "the verdict is handed out to the attorney general's office on Monday for execution". The judge said the verdict, announced late Friday, was reached on March 14.

Judge Iskandar Kamil was quoted by state news agency Antara as saying that Guterres was "free from all charges" and "entitled to rehabilitation of his name and receive compensation from the state".

Guterres headed the Aitarak or Thorn militia which terrorised residents of the East Timor capital Dili ahead of the 1999 UN-backed referendum that saw the East Timorese vote in favour of breaking away from Indonesia.

The tiny half-island nation of one million people became independent in 2002.

Pro-Indonesian militia groups, nurtured and backed by the Indonesian armed forces and police, went on a killing spree following the pro-independence results of the ballot. Some 1,400 people were killed in the violence.

All other defendants besides Guterres that have faced trial have been acquitted or had their convictions overturned on appeal.